Governance

Trustees (Governors) play an important role at Fairfield High School for Girls. The overall responsibility for the governance of the school lies with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees are the strategic decision makers and vision setters at Fairfield and delegate a significant proportion of its responsibilities to the school’s committees. They play a vital role in ensuring that every pupil receives the best possible education and they set and safeguard an ethos of high expectations for everyone in the school community. Our Board of Trustees come from a range of different backgrounds and each individual person brings different skills and expertise to the role.

Welcome from the Chair of the Trust Board – Mrs Bev Worthington

Dear Parents and Carers,

As Chair of the Trust Board, I am delighted to welcome all of our parents and carers to our website. I hope that you will find all the information you need here, but if not, please do not hesitate to get in touch with either the school or myself via school. I am very proud of our school’s reputation and for the outstanding support our pupils receive. Fairfield High School for Girls is a fully inclusive school and every pupil matters to us; with our excellent experienced staff and the facilities we have available within school I am confident in saying that your daughters could not be at a better school. Fairfield High School for Girls is a school where we recognise each pupil’s individual needs, talents and contributions. As Chair of the Trust Board, I am extremely proud of Fairfield High School for Girls and I promise you that we will do our very best to ensure that your daughters enjoy their time with us, are kept safe and achieve their full potential. I can guarantee that they will leave the school as responsible, respectful, educated, caring members of the community with values that are second to none. I look forward to meeting you in the near future at one of our events.

Yours sincerely

Bev Worthington
Chair of the Trust Board

Contact Us

Our Governance Professional is Mrs Julie Murphy who can be contacted by email – Jmurphy@fairfieldhighschool.co.uk

Recruitment of Trustees

Dear Parents and Carers

We are looking to appoint two Trustees and one Parent Trustee onto our Trust Board.

If you are interested in applying for either of these roles please download the attached documentation as this provides you with information about the roles and also gives details on how to apply.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 15^th September 2023.

Expressions of interest and/or applications should be emailed to myself Mrs. Julie Murphy (Governance Professional) at jmurphy@fairfieldhighschool.co.uk

If you know of other people who are not parents of pupils who attend the school and would be interested in becoming Trustees, please either share this information with them.

Many Thanks.

Mrs. Julie Murphy

Governance Professional

Trustees

Mrs Bev Worthington – Trustee and Chair of the Trust Board

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Peter Ingham – Trustee and Vice Chair of the Trust Board

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Lisa Richards – Trustee

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Term Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	Principal of Ashton Sixth Form College

Mrs Lorna Stafford – Trustee

Date of Appointment	22nd March 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Rob Taylor – Trustee

Date of Appointment	22nd March 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Helgi Kristjánsson – Parent Trustee

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	Parent and Carer Elected
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Staff Representatives

Mrs Lynne Cheetham – Support Staff Representative

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	Support Staff Elected
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Matthew Knowles – Teaching Staff Representative          

Date of Appointment	25th January 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	Teaching Staff Elected
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Attendees at Meetings

Mrs Julie Murphy – Governance Professional

Business and Pecuniary Interests

None

Mrs Stephanie Bateman – Accounting Officer and Headteacher

Business and Pecuniary Interests

None

Members

Members have a limited but important role to play in safeguarding Academy Trust Governance. This is similar to the role of shareholders of a company limited by shares. They have a duty to ensure the Academy Trust meets its overarching objectives of advancing (for the public benefit) education in the United Kingdom. Members will also ensure that the school is governed in accordance with the culture, values and ethos of its unique history. The Members main responsibilities are to:

• Sign the memorandum and articles of association and amend the articles of association   subject to any restrictions created by the funding agreement or charity law.
• Appoint and remove Members and Trustees.
• Appoint and remove the Auditors.
• Receive a copy of the Annual Accounts and Report.
• Ensure the success of the Trust.
• By special resolution, issue direction to the Trustees to take a specific action.
• Meet (usually once a year) at an Annual General Meeting similar to shareholders.
• Dissolve the Trust.

They do not, however, get involved with the day to day running of the school nor tell the Trustees how to run the Trust. Members meet as required in accordance with their guardianship responsibilities but this must include an Annual General Meeting to receive the Board of Trustees Annual Report and to appoint the Auditors.

Mrs Sharman Birtles – Member

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mr Tom Doyle – Member

Date of Appointment	1st April 2021
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Barbara Derbyshire – Member

Date of Appointment	1st September 2022
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Pat Catterall – Member

Date of Appointment	13th February 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Mrs Helen Weston – Member

Date of Appointment	13th February 2023
Term of Office	4 Year Term
Appointed by	The Trust Board Members
Business and Pecuniary Interests	None

Governance Documents